The Presidential Daily Brief

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This First-Person Shooter Is Putting Autism in the Game

Who says video games are unhealthy? Overwatch, with more than 30 million players, offers a wholesome twist. It’s boosting much-needed autism awareness by featuring a character named Symmetra, who misunderstands social cues during gameplay and craves rigid structure. There’s also Ana, 60, a one-eyed Egyptian sniper, Junkrat, an Australian amputee explosives expert, and Tracer, a lesbian British time jumper. They’re all part of an effort by game developers to mirror gamers’ diversity — with characters possessing a mix of unique attributes that can unlock players’ perceptions of other people’s differences.